to provide assistance; however, the Curaçao Parliament took up the question of providing additional public funds to the airline in August, when it became public that employee salaries had not yet been paid for July. During the first week of August, the St. Maartin airport issued a "ground hold" for all DAE aircraft landing at the airport. Since St. Maarten and Curaçao share a common Civil Aviation department, and since DAE held a valid air operator's certificate issued by Civil Aviation, St. Maarten could not legally prevent any DAE aircraft from landing; however, it could hold that aircraft on the ground as collateral against the arrears. The airport and the airline agreed to enter negotiations and the airport allowed DAE aircraft to depart for several days as "relief" flights. By August 6, 2013, DAE had stopped operating to St. Maarten and was unable to come to an agreement with the airport, it would not service since. On August 12, 2013, it was reported that one of Dutch Antilles Express's largest creditors, Girobank, had placed liens against their accounts, effectively stopping any cash flow from the business accounts. The following day, DAE employees assembled at the government offices in Curaçao to appeal for the council to reconsider its decision regarding the company. By August 16, the airline was experiencing significant cash flow issues and had to cancel and consolidate flights to minimize fuel expenses. The Curacao Parliament discussed the ramifications of Dutch Antilles Express falling into bankruptcy and the economic impact that such an event would have on Curaçao. The reviewed finances of the company were reviewed in a closed session and the Parliament decided to decline further assistance to the airline by a vote of 9-9, with 3 absences (simple majority required to pass). The next day, DAE was prevented from using the check-in services of Curaçao Airport for a short time and admitted that services to Bonaire had been canceled as of the week before due to non-payment of navigation charges. On August 24 at 00:01, the Curaçao Airport placed a departure restriction on all Dutch Antilles Express flights. As all of their flights either originated or arrived at Curaçao, this effectively stopped all operations. Over the next days, all DAE aircraft were returned to their lessors and all flights throughout the network were canceled. Shortly thereafter, IATA withdrew the airline from the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), preventing